Archive for the 'Bangkok' Category

Update, 21:30, 28 February: Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has just announced that anti-government protesters will end their occupation of all intersections starting Monday, March 3. The demonstrations will instead be confined to “inside” Lumpini Park. This is a major development — stay tuned for more info. This past week was a tragic one for Thailand, … read the full post

The dust has settled in Bangkok after a violent clash between police and anti-government protesters left five dead and over 60 injured on Tuesday (February 18). It was the first serious attempt to disperse protesters who have for months occupied government offices and key intersections as part of their “Bangkok Shutdown” campaign. What does this … read the full post

This is hilarious, I thought, while strolling from one anti-government protest site in Bangkok’s shopping district to the other, this past Saturday afternoon. Bursting with street food and clothing stalls, this normally traffic-choked stretch of Rama I Road is now among the city’s most vibrant street markets. With far more casual shoppers around than protesters, … read the full post

As the so-called “Bangkok Shutdown” enters a sixth day on Saturday, anti-government protests are beginning to take their toll. While the city has not been shut down and the vast majority of it remains safe, the situation is tense, fluid and unpredictable. Friday saw a marked escalation of violence, most notably when an explosive was … read the full post

The catchphrase “Bangkok Shutdown” worked well to drum up hype for the latest wave of anti-government protests, and it continues to convince many foreign travellers to cancel trips to the Thai capital. Yet all public transport (save a few public buses), all vital utilities and most businesses are operating as normal. So what exactly has … read the full post

Over the past 76 days of anti-government protests, Bangkok has endured some tense and sometimes violent moments, and the road closures caused by the so-called Bangkok Shutdown are certainly a nuisance. But what is it really like for travellers who simply want to go sightseeing? We did a little experiment on Tuesday to find out. … read the full post

Update, 3 March 2014: The “Bangkok Shutdown” is over. All PDRC protesters have moved inside Lumpini Park, leaving virtually all of Bangkok open for business as usual. This article is no longer relevant, but concerned travellers can still ask questions in the comments and receive answers. With the so-called Bangkok Shutdown now in full swing, many … read the full post

Well, folks, it’s on. The anti-government protesters have begun their latest bid to oust Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra through what they’ve dubbed a “Bangkok Shutdown“. The hype has led many travellers to cancel trips to the Thai capital this week, but in reality, right now at least, the campaign is currently more of an … read the full post

It’s that time of the year and yet again Thailand has failed to disappoint by being in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Yes, it’s what you could almost refer to as protest season and some are getting increasingly concerned about the potential for serious disruption in the Thai capital Bangkok in early 2014. … read the full post

Thanks to Travelfish member altmtl for the heads up on this and Thai Visa has the verified scoop on the latest change in Thailand’s seemingly ever changing tourist visa regulations — at least this time it is good news! As of November 1, 2013 travellers holding UK, US, Japanese, German, French, Canadian and Italian passports … read the full post